Automatic flood gate



Sept. 7,1926. v 1599,333

w. s. KIMBALL AUTOMATIC FLOOD GATE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet} 1 Sept. 7, 1926. 1,599,333

w. s KIMBALL AUTOMATIC FLOOD GATE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I amve/ntoz Sept. 7, 1926.:

. W. KIMBALL AUTOMATIC FLOOD GATE Original Filed Nov. 10, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 511mm zzzlzfzmmzz Witness Patented Sept. 7, 19 26.

UNITED STA TES? Actor/mere rnoon earn.

Application filed November 10, 1924-, Serial No. 749,097. Renewed March 8, 1926.

It is well known that a great meany dams are sub]ect to severe ll'lJUI'Y, if not total destruction, when flood conditions arise 1n the waters held in check thereby, unless some provision is made for permitting the excess pressureto escape. Flood gates, consubstantially to normal.

' vertical side walls 2" and a bottom 3.-

With the foregoingin view, theinvention resides in the novel subyect matter hereinafter described and'clainied, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lflood gate constructed in accordancewith my in: vention. V V Figure 2 is a top plan view. Figure 3 is a verticallongitudinal sec tional view showing the gate locked in its closed position.

Figure lisa duplicate of Fig. 3 with the exception that itjillustrates the manner in which the gate is automatically opened by excessive rise of the water level. 1 Figure 5 is a horizontal. sectional view as indicated by line 5 -5 of Fig. 4.

Figures 6 and 7 re perspective views of the upper and lower portions of the gate.

In the drawings above briefly described,

the-numeral 1 designates a fluine or passageway,,w hich isshown as embodying opposed cured tothe inner surfaces of'the side walls 2. at theinlet end of the flume; l have shown two substantially vertical bars 4:.

whose upper ends may well curve toward the direction from which the water. held in check by the gate, is flowing; These bars are preferably connecte'd at their upper ends by a transversecrown bar 5 and may well'be' further connected near their lower ends, by a second transverse bar 6. Rising 1 "a short distance from the bar 6 andeittending from one sidebar 4 to the opposite ban 4', is-af stationary intermediate 'gate'se'ction I 7'.-{ In' thepresent showing, this stationary gate section is formed witha vertical islot Novel ineansfare pr 8 from its upper to its lower edge, and the upper portions of said section, at opposite sides of the slot, are secured to relatively shprt-transverse bars 9, through which a pivot shaft 10 passes. Pivot'ally. hung from Parent OFFICE.

this shaft, is an arm 11 carrying a lower if gate section 12 for normally, closing the space below the stationary gate section'7, as shown in Fig. 3. The arm 11' and the bar 6 are by preference jointly notched as indicated at 13 to permit-swingingof said arm to the positiondisclosed in F Attention lnayhere he directed to the'fact I that the gate section 12 is adapted'to open toward the direction fromv which the -water is flowing.

An upper constructlon 1s inounted between theside walls 2 for normally closing'the space above gate section 14L, ofany desired,

thee-stationary gate section 7 as shown in Fig. 3, thisupper section 14'being adapted to open in the direction in which the water flows. .This upper section 18 much larger than the lower section 12 and it ,is slidably mounted upon 'guide rods 15 whichproject from the bars 4: to additional vertical bars 16 secured to the inner opposed faceszvof the side walls 2. By'suitable lllfllKS l'Y, I have shown the'upper and lower portions .of the gate sectipn 1}}, connected with eyes 18 on a substantially vertical lever 19 whose lower end issimilarly-linked at 20 to the lower {rate section 12.- This lever is; fulcrurned between its ends onga transverse, d 21 whose ends--may well be""mounted; in

braclretsf22 secured to the stationary gate section 7, spac1ng sleeves 23bein 9; preferably mounted onthetrod, between said.

brackets and the opposite sides of the lever to hold theqlatter in a centered'position.'

Thelever19 is preferably curved as shown in the drawings.

"By employing the construction above de scribed, or a substantial equivalentthereof, it: will ?be "seen that when" the upper a gate Y section 14 is moved from the position of: Fig. to that of Fig.o4,by 'thewater pressure, the lower gate section 12" will also be moved from the position of Fig, 3 to that of Fig. 4. Similarly, by connecting the'upper. and lower sections ofthelgategin some adequate manner, itis' insured that closing 7 of; the lower gate section 12, whenjthe water level has receded, will correspondingly close the gate sections, and in the present disclosure such means is effective to hold them in either open or closed position. At 25,

the rear end of said lever having a shoulder 27 which normally engages the upper end of the lever 19 so as to lock the gate sections closed as shown in Fig. 3. This same lever also is provided at its front end with another shoulder 28, which when the gate sections are opened, is adapted to engage the upper section 14 as shown in Fig. l, to hold'said section open until the lever is released. This lever is provided with a rearwardly extending operating arm 29 and uponthe rear end of this arm, I have shown an appropriate verticalguide gO which re ceives a vertical bar 31, sustained by a float 32, saidbar 31 having upper and lower abutments 83 and 34 disposed respectively over and under the guide 30 and adjustable longitudinally of saidbar, so that they may be moved different distances apart. In the present showing, the abutments are in the form of pins and to effect adjustment of these pins, they may be inserted through 7 any of the openings 35 in the bar 31. Y

The abutments 33 and 34 are set in such a manner that they permit vertical move-.

ment of the bar 31 with respect to the arm 29, as the float 32 rises to some extent, upon ascent of the water level behind the gate, but upon further rise of the water, the lower abutment 34 forces upwardly uponthe arm 29, thus rocking the lever 25 and disengagE ing its shoulder 27 from the lever 19. The outward pressure of the water against the large gate section 14, then moves thls sec- "tion to the open position shown in t and at the same time, the lower section 12 is moved rearwardly or inwardly to its open position; as soon as the gate section 14 reaches its outermost position, it snaps into engagement with the shoulder 28 and this shoulder will hold the two connected gate sect-ions in their open positions, until a sufficient amount of water has escaped through the open gate, to permit the float 82 to drop to the required extent for releas- I ing the lever 25 from the ate section 14.

By the time this release has,

taken place, the water levelhas so receded that the water pressure against the lower gatersection 12 is" greater than that against the upper sec- 'tion '14, whereupon said lower section is forced to its closed position, causing simul taneous closing or, the upper section 14.. When the two sections are closed, the lever 19 engages, the shoulder 27 and thus said sections are locked in their closed position until automatically, released byfurther ascent of the level of the water.

It will be seen from the above that I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive flood gate, jet one which will be very ent disclosure is for illustrative purposes only, and within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modifications may be made. 7

I have shown an open-work guard or fence structure 40 around the operating portions of the gate and such. a structure is preferably employed, to protectsaid operating parts against floating debris. This guard or fence is shown secured to the inclined bars 41 which are attached to the side walls 2 of the tlume or passageway;

Tclaim; V v 1. A flood gate comprising an upper gate portion mounted for opening movementin the direction of flow of the water, a lower gate portion mounted for opening movement in the opposite direction, the two gate portions being connected to cause the opening movement of the upper portion to open the lower portion and to cause closing movement of said lower portion to close saidupper portion, means for locking the upper gate portion in closed position, and means for automatically releasing said locking means upon predetermined rise'of the water level.

2. A flood gate comprising an upper gate portion mounted for opening movement in the'direction of flow of the water, a lower gate, portion mounted for opening move:

ment in theopposite direction, the two gate and upon predetermined descentofthe water level when said gate portions are locked open. 7

3. it flood V tively large gate section mounted to open in the direction in which thewater flows,a

lower comparatively small gate section mounted to open-1n the opposite direction,

gate comprising an upper relalit) a substantially verticallever fulcrumed between its ends and connected at said ends with the upper and lower gate sections 'ra spectively, to produce simultaneous open ng and simultaneous closing of said'sections, a"

locking member ,engageable with said lever to hold the gate sections closed, andmeans operatively connected with said locking member for automatically releasing the same upon predetermined rise of the water level;

4:. A flood gate comprising an upper relaand simultaneous closing of said sections, a

locking lever fulcrumed between its ends over the first named lever and the upper gate section, the rear end of said locking lever having a shoulder co-operable with said first named lever for locking the gate sections in closed position, the front end of said locking lever having a shoulder co- )perable with the upper gate section for looking it in open position, and means operatively connected with said locking lever for releasing it from the first named lever upon predetermined rise of the water level and for releasing it from said upper gate section after the water. level has receded to a predetermined extent.

5. A flood gate comprising an upper relatively large gate section mounted to open in the direction in which the water flows, a

lower comparatively small gate section mounted to open in the opposite direction, a substantially vertical lever fulcrumed between its ends, and connected at said ends with the upper and lower gate sections respectively, to produce simultaneous opening and simultaneous closing of said sections, a locking lever fulcrumed between'its ends over the first named lever and the upper gate section, the rear end of said looking lever having a shoulder co-operable with said first named lever for locking the gate sections in closed position, the front end of said locking lever having a shoulder cooperable with the upper gate section for locking it in open position, an operating arm extending rearwardly from said locking lever and having a guide, a vertical bar slidable through said guide andliaving relatively adjustable abutments at the upper and lower sides thereof, and a float for supporting and operating said vertical bar.

6. A flood gate comprising an upper gate portion mounted for opening. movement in the direction of flow of the water, a lower gate portion mounted for opening movement in the opposite direction, the two gate portions being connected to cause the opening movement of the upper portion to'open the lower portion and to cause closing of said lower portion to close said upper pore tion, means for locking the two gate portions in either open or closed position, a vertical bar having a lost motion connection with said locking means for releasing the latter from its gate-closed position when the bar rises to a predetermined extent, and for releasing said locking means from its gate-open position wien saidbar lowers to a predetermined extent, and. a float for con: trolling the vertical'movem'ent of said bar.

7. A structure as specified in claim6; said lost motion connection between said locking means and said vertical bar, comprising a guide through which the bar passes slidably, and relatively adjustable abutments on said bar disposed respectively over and under said guide.

8. A flood gate comprising a water passage having opposed vertical side walls, an intermediate stationary gate section extend ing between said side walls, a lower inwardly movable gate section under said stationary section, means pivotally mounting said lower gate section, an upper relatively large gate section over said stationary section and adapted to open outwardly, means slidably mounting said upper gate section, a substantially vertical lever fulcrumed between .its ends on said. stationary section and having'its upper and lower ends linked to the upper and lower gate sections respectively, a substantially horizontal locking lever co-operable with theupper end of the first named lever for locking the upper and lower gate sections in closed position, said locking lever being also co-operable with the upper gate section to lock the latter inits open position, and automatic controlling means for said locking member including a float adapted to ride on the surface of the water held in check by the gate.

9a A flood gate comprising an upper gate portion mounted for opening movement in the direction offlow of the water, alcwer gate portion mounted for opening movement in the opposite direction, the two gate portions being connected to cause the opening movement of the upper portionto open the lower portion and to cause closing movement of said lower portion to close said upper por-v WILLIAM s. KI BALL. 

